Georgetown Representative Paula Thomas resigned House Seat 108 in order to run
for a Circuit Court. That seat was left vacant when Ralph King Anderson was elected
to the Court of Appeals earlier this year. Due to the timing of her resignation, a special
election to fill her House seat will not be necessary.

conference report adopted

Agreement was reached on S.699, concerning the
sale of real estate to collect delinquent property taxes. The bill increases the interest rate from
eight to twelve per cent during the final six months of the redemption period. Owners must be
notified in writing of any excess due the taxpayer. Conferees also removed language prohibiting
county officials and their families from profiting from the sale.

The House adopted the conference report on S.1195, after Representatives Rita Allison, Harry Stille, and David
Wright were appointed as conferees earlier in the week. The bill enacts the "Higher Education
Accountability Act," and is the first legislation in the nation to base funding for thirty-three public
institutions on achievement of performance standards
rather than the number of attending
students. The measure authorizes the Commission on Higher Education to reduce duplication and
coordinate services in the state's higher education system by expanding, reducing, or eliminating
programs. However, the General Assembly still would have to approve these actions. Each
institution will define its mission. Funding then will be determined based on nine success factors
and thirty-six performance standards. These include such concerns as entrance standards,
graduation rate, faculty credentials, collaborative efforts with other institutions, and research
activities. An amendment to the bill prohibits the Commission on Higher Education from interfering
with single-gender education, unless ordered by federal courts. Representatives also gave free
conference powers to conferees on H.3300, and
then adopted their report, making South Carolina the
thirty-first state to adopt such a measure.
Patterned after New Jersey's "Megan's Law," the bill
expands public accessibility to sex offender
registries currently available to only law enforcement officials. While the measure originally allowed
public posting of the entire list at the county sheriff's department, it was amended to provide
instead that a person could ask about a suspected offender at a particular address to see if the
resident is on the list. This was done to preclude lawsuits stipulating that a person is being
punished twice for the same crime. An amendment to the measure also provides that a person
convicted of consensual sex with a minor would face only a three year sentence, rather than the
current twenty years, when there is less than four years difference in their ages. However, this
would not apply if there is more than four years difference, or if the minor is under fourteen years
old. If the consensual sex is between persons under sixteen years old, the offender would not be
included on the registry.

conference committee appointed

Ways and Means Chairman Henry Brown and Representatives Billy Boan and Alfred Robinson were
appointed as conferees on H.4600 and
H.4602, appropriating money from the budget and
the capital reserve fund. Representatives Jim Klauber, Jim Hodges, and Jeff Young were appointed
as conferees on S.
1315
. The measure revises the
South Carolina/Georgia border based on North American Datum 1927. Representatives amended
the bill to provide an extension for candidates for sheriff to submit fingerprint reviews. The
proposed legislation would not apply to incumbent sheriffs. However, Senators deleted that
language, and submitted the proposal in two other forms. First the provision was introduced as
a separate bill, S.
1380
, which already has received
third reading in the Senate and is now in the House Judiciary Committee. Also, S.90 concerning armed robbery was amended to provide for the
extension.

concurrence in Senate amendments, to be ratified

H.3909 provides that no subcontracting
architect, engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect, or their employees are liable for injury
resulting from the contractor's failure to comply with safety standards on a construction project.
However, the immunity does not apply to negligent preparation of design plans or specifications.
H.4136 provides for confidentiality of anonymous
HIV testing. H.4502
prohibits same-sex marriages
in South Carolina. While no states currently recognize these marriages, the Hawaiian State
Supreme Court has indicated it would if appealed.
H.
4676 revises Bingo laws. Originally the bill defined a "nonprofit
organization" as one that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, or fraternal
purposes. Senators amended the measure to address the issuance of licenses and hiring
prohibitions instead.

nonconcurrence in Senate amendments, to conference committee

S.507 provides that a person applying to
operate a private detective business must meet the same qualifications as a person applying to
become a private detective. The measure also allows retired law enforcement officials to carry
weapons.

nonconcurrence in Senate amendments, amended, returned to Senate for concurrence

H.3961, concerning judicial reform,
provides for a referendum to amend the State Constitution in order to establish a Judicial Merit
Selection Commission. The Commission is authorized to investigate and review candidates, in
order to eliminate weak ones. Legislators would not be allowed to vote for any candidate found
"unqualified." The measure also increases the minimum age of judges from twenty-six to thirty-
two years old. The House and Senate disagree over the size and appointment of the Commission.
Representatives proposed eleven members, while Senators suggested thirteen. The Senate also
amended the bill to provide that a legislator must be out of the General Assembly for at least one
year before applying for a judgeship--a provision which the House refused to adopt earlier this
year. Another Senate amendment provides that successful candidates must receive a majority of
both the House and Senate, rather than a majority of the total number of legislators.
Representatives removed this provision. H.3962
also provides for a referendum concerning judicial reform. Voters would be asked if a Judicial Merit
Selection Commission should be established, whether the minimum age for judges should be
raised, and if candidates should receive a majority of both chambers of the General Assembly.
Representatives nonconcurred with H.4600, next
fiscal year's $4.4 billion dollar budget, and H.4602, which spends over $80 million dollars in
capital reserve funds. Senators included $20 million
dollars for the first year of a three year phase
in of all day kindergarten for five year olds, but Representatives did not provide any funding for
that program. Both the House and Senate provided the
Department of Juvenile Justice almost all
of the $29.9 million dollars requested by Governor David Beasley to address federal mandates
easing overcrowding and other conditions. The money will be used to hire additional staff, and to
provide alternative treatment programs. Property tax
relief under both versions is continued at the
current level. In most cases, the first $100,000 of a home's value would be exempted from
property taxes. However, Senators changed the distribution formula, citing the need for parity
between donor and recipient counties. Rather than basing the formula on tax rates and property
values, Senators placed greater emphasis on a county's population as reflected in the 1990
census. Both the Senate and House voted to give teachers a 3.4% pay raise, but differences exist
in their proposed state employee pay raises. Senators approved a 3.4% pay raise, while
Representatives agreed on 2.4%. Both chambers proposed a 12% pay raise for corrections
officers. Two-third's of the necessary funds will come from savings achieved by the Department
of corrections. However, the House suggested pay raises begin July 1, 1996, while the Senate
postponed the raise until October. Both plans included $20 million dollars to install
telecommunications equipment in schools. Legislators also agreed to increase the tax exemption
for parents of children under six years old from $3,600 to $4,200, and to begin a three year phase
in extending the manufacturer's depreciation rate from 80% to 90%.

received third reading, to be ratified

S.1176 enacts the "South Carolina Credit
Union Act of 1996." The bill provides for the organization, operation, and supervision of
cooperative nonprofit thrift and credit associations
known as credit unions. The House version of
this measure, H.
4686
, is now in the Senate
Banking and Industry Committee. S.1266
eliminates a two week break in the deer hunting season on private lands in Game Zone 4.
S.1305 reforms property insurance problems faced
by coastal landowners. It provides that premium rates may not increase more than once every six
months, and bases rates on ninety per cent or less of those approved for the South Carolina Wind
and Hail Underwriting Association. A similar measure,
H.4865, received third reading in the Senate last week and has been
enrolled for ratification. S.1345 provides that the
Hunley Commission is exempt from the state procurement code. The measure also authorizes the
Commission to sign an agreement giving the state permanent custody of the Confederate
submarine sunken off the coast of Sullivan's Island.
However, the federal government would retain
the Hunley's title. S.1395 provides that municipalities which did not
adopt one of four specified forms of government within fifteen months after December 31, 1977,
are considered to have forfeited their articles of incorporation. These articles would not be
reinstated until the municipalities notify the Secretary of State which form of government has been
adopted.

received third reading, amended, returned to Senate for concurrence

S.62 provides that an inmate who escapes
or attempts to escape from custody may not serve the
remainder of his sentence or any additional
sentence in a minimum security facility. The bill was amended to provide that such an inmate may
receive an additional sentence of up to fifteen years, rather than the current five years. This
additional sentence would be served consecutively to
other sentences. S.1054 authorizes joint agencies to sell limited amounts of excess
electricity at wholesale prices. The bill also provides that these agencies may build certain
distribution projects without prior approval from the Public Service Commission. S.1164, concerning intestate
succession, provides that the probate
court may limit or deny survivor benefits to an estranged parent who has refused to reasonably
support his child. S.
1293 authorizes a crime victim
to receive a free copy of the incident report pertaining to his case. The ten dollar ($10) fee for this
document would be paid by the offender. The bill also addresses restitution payments and
hearings. It authorizes the Attorney General or his designee to attend these hearings. The
estimated fiscal impact of this measure is over $3 million dollars annually. The House amendment
stipulates these provisions would be done only if there is sufficient funding. A similar bill,
H.4657, is currently in the Senate Judiciary
Committee.

received third reading, sent to the Senate

H.4477 requires vehicles driven by a person
without a driver's license to be impounded at the driver's expense. The measure provides for
different impoundment periods for a first, second, and third offense. It also establishes a thirty day
grace period after license expiration during which a
vehicle could not be impounded. H.4631 provides that non coin-operated laundry, dry cleaning,
dyeing, and pressing services are exempted from sales tax. The measure would reduce sales tax
revenue by about $6.3 million dollars annually. A similar proposal was tacked onto the Senate
version of the budget. H.
4657 authorizes a crime
victim to receive a free copy of the incident report. The ten dollar fee for the document would be
paid by the offender. The bill also addresses restitution payments and hearings. It is estimated that
this measure would cost the state $3 million dollars
annually. A similar bill, S.1293, received third reading in the House last week, was amended,
and returned to the Senate for concurrence.

concurrent resolution adopted

H.4991 memorializes the United States
Forest Service to deny a permit for commercial mining on public lands in the Upper Chauga River
Watershed.

tabled

H.4453 provides students with a fourth
opportunity to pass the Education Entrance Examination (EEE) this year. The measure was killed
because a similar bill, S.
949, has been passed by
both chambers and now is in the Senate for concurrence in a House amendment.

continued

S.21 legalized the practice of tattooing for
nonmedical purposes. An amendment to the bill prohibited tattooing anyone under eighteen years
old, or the neck or head. South Carolina is one of four states which ban tattooing. H.4245 recognizes the Chicora-Waccamaw and the Pee Dee
Indian Tribes. It confers upon these tribes such rights and privileges as are provided by law to
indian tribes. The economic impact of this measure is uncertain. However, a similar measure
concerning the Catawba Indians resulted in a $12.5 million dollar settlement with that tribe. The
Senate version of this bill, S.862, is in the House
Judiciary Committee. H.
4716 subjects foreign beer
brewers and their distributors to the same laws which govern agreements between their domestic
counterparts.

recommitted/committed

H.3174 was recommitted to the Education
and Public Works Committee. The bill establishes the
Motorcycle Safety Education Trust Fund with
money raised by increasing motorcycle registration and driver's license fees. The proposed
legislation also provides new restrictions for beginning cyclists. Restrictions for beginning drivers
are proposed in H.
3803
. That bill was recommitted
to the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee last week, as was H.3827. The proposed legislation, concerning auto
insurance reform, revises the current tier system for rating risks undertaken by the reinsurance
facility and limits rates charged. H.3931 also was
recommitted to the Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee. The measure provides for a
presumption of total and permanent disability due to a fifty per cent or more loss of the use of the
back. Among other provisions included in the measure is a stipulation that mental illness resulting
from work-related stress is not compensable. H.
4651 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. It provides that
a live animal may not be given as a prize for/or inducement to enter a game, contest, or place of
amusement. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable for each separate offense by
a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300), a sentence of not more than thirty days, or
both. However, the raffling of animals would be allowed still. A similar measure, S.1013, is in the House Judiciary Committee, too. H.4712 was committed to the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and
Environmental Affairs Committee. The bill increases the penalty for a third or subsequent offense
of cruelty to animals. Currently an offender may be fined up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) and
imprisoned up to two years. This measure provides that a third or subsequent offense is a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and a sentence
of not more than three years. A similar bill, S.
1263, also is in the House
Agriculture, Natural Resources, and
Environmental Affairs Committee. H.4788 was
recommitted to the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. The bill establishes
conditions under which a patient may receive physical therapy without first being referred by a
doctor or dentist. H.
4884 was recommitted to the
Judiciary Committee. It provides that it is unlawful for an inmate to tell another person that he
plans to commit a violent crime when released. A person who does this must be imprisoned for
not more than ten years.

recalled

Three bills were recalled from committees last week. Two were given third reading, and
enrolled for ratification. S.1197, which is still on
the House calendar for second reading, requires that a nonresident owning or operating a shad net
in the Savannah River be licensed. Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine
of at least twenty-five dollars ($25), or a sentence of not more than thirty days. Other measures
included in the bill revise several current fishing and wildlife provisions, such as licensing and the
hunter education program. S.1266 and
S.1305 received
third reading and were sent to
the Senate. S.1266
eliminates a two week break
in deer hunting season on private lands in Game Zone 4. S.1305 reforms property insurance problems faced by coastal
landowners, and provides that premium rates may not increase more than once every six months.
The bill bases premiums on ninety per cent or less of that approved for the South Carolina Wind
and Hail Underwriting Association. A similar measure,
H.4865, is on the Senate calendar for second reading.

SENATE

conference report adopted

Senators granted free conference powers and then adopted the report on S.90. The bill provides that penalties for armed robbery would apply
to a robber who claims to have a weapon but does not. The bill was amended to provide an
extension for candidates for sheriff to submit fingerprint reviews. Under the measure, the reviews
would be due 130 days before elections in November. S.
699 concerns the sale of real estate to collect delinquent property
taxes. The bill increases the interest rate from eight to twelve per cent during the final six months
of the redemption period. Owners must be notified in
writing of any excess due the taxpayer.
Conferees also deleted the language prohibiting county officials and their families from
participating in sales for personal gain. Senators adopted the conference report on S.1195. Education and Public Works Chairman Nikki Setzler and
Senators Holly Cork and McKinley Washington had been
appointed as conferees earlier last week
on the measure which enacts the "Higher Education Accountability Act." This is the first
legislation of its kind in the nation to base funding for thirty-three public institutions on
achievement of performance standards rather than on the number of attending students. The bill
authorizes the Commission on Higher Education to reduce duplication and to coordinate services
in the state's higher education system by expanding,
reducing, or eliminating programs. However,
the General Assembly still would have to approve these actions. Funding then will be determined
based on nine success factors and thirty-six performance standards. These include such concerns
as entrance standards, graduation rate, faculty credentials, collaborative efforts with other
institutions, and research activities. The House version of this bill, H.4637, is now on the Senate
calendar for second reading. The
Senate adopted the conference report on H.3300. Patterned after New Jersey's "Megan's
Law," the bill expands public accessibility to a sex
offender registry currently open to only law
enforcement officials. While the measure originally allowed posting of the entire list at the county
sheriff's department, it was amended to provide instead that a person could ask about a suspected
offender at a particular address to see if the resident is on the list. This was done to prevent
lawsuits stipulating that a person was being punished twice for the same crime. The measure also
provides that a person convicted of consensual sex with a minor would face only a three year
sentence, rather than the current twenty years, when
there is less than four years difference in
their ages. However, this would not apply when there is more than four years difference, or if the
minor is under fourteen years old. If the consensual sex is between two persons under sixteen
years old, the offender will not be included on the registry.

conference committee appointed

Finance Chairman John Drummond and Senators Verne Smith and Tyrone Courtney were
appointed as conferees to H.4600 and
H.4602, which appropriate money in the budget
and the capital reserve fund.

concurrence in House amendments, to be ratified

S.1033 requires that the Attorney General's
Office establish a youth mentor program which combines community and church resources.
Participation in the program may be ordered by the Family Court as a pretrial diversion option, as
an alternative case disposition for nonviolent offenders, or as a condition of probation. This bill is
similar to H.4900
, which remains in the House
Judiciary Committee. S.
1043 requires health
maintenance organizations (HMO's) to pay for hospital stays of up to two days after a vaginal
delivery, and up to three days after caesarian sections. A similar bill, H.4396, is in the Senate Banking and Industry Committee.
S.1054 authorizes joint agencies to sell limited
amounts of excess electricity at wholesale prices. The bill also provides that these agencies may
build certain distribution projects without prior approval from the Public Service Commission.

nonconcurrence in House amendments, to conference committee

S.949 provides students with a fourth
opportunity to pass the Education Entrance Examination (EEE) this year. The House amendment
provides that after December 1, 1996, a student who has failed to pass the EEE after two
attempts may retake the test a third time, but only after first completing a remedial course in that
subject. A similar bill, H.4453, was tabled by the
House last week. H.
3961
, concerning judicial
reform, provides for a referendum to amend the State
Constitution in order to establish a Judicial
Merit Selection Commission. The Commission is authorized to investigate and review candidates
in order to eliminate weak ones. Legislators would not be allowed to vote for candidates deemed
to be "unqualified" by the Commission. The measure also increases the minimum age of judges
from twenty-six to thirty-two years old. The House and the Senate disagree over the size and
appointment of the Commission. Representatives proposed eleven members, while Senators
suggested thirteen. Senators also want to provide that a legislator must be out of the General
Assembly for at least one year before he could file for a judgeship--a provision the House rejected
earlier this year. In addition, Senators had provided that successful candidates must receive a
majority vote of both the House and the Senate, rather than a simple majority. H.3962 also provides for a referendum addressing judicial reform.
Voters would be asked whether a Judicial Merit Selection Commission should be established,
whether the minimum ages of judges should be raised, and whether successful candidates should
have a majority vote of both chambers of the General
Assembly. Senators refused to concur in
House amendments to H.
4600, next fiscal year's
$4.4 billion dollar budget, and to H.4602, which
spends over $80 million dollars in capital reserve funds. The Senate included $20 million dollars
for the first of a three year phase in of all day kindergarten for five year olds. However,
Representatives did not provide any funding for that
program. Both the House and Senate provided
the Department of Juvenile Justice almost all of the
$29.9 million dollars requested by Governor
David Beasley to address federal mandates easing overcrowding and other conditions. The money
will be used to hire additional staff, and to provide alternative treatment programs. Property tax
relief under both versions is continued at the current level. In most cases, the first $100,000 of
a home's value would be exempted from property taxes. However, Senators changed the
distribution formula, citing the need for parity between donor and recipient counties. Rather than
basing the formula on tax rates and property values, the Senate placed greater emphasis on a
county's population as reflected in the 1990 census. Both the Senate and House voted to give
teachers a 3.4% pay raise, but differences exist in their proposed state employee pay raises.
Senators approved a 3.4% pay, but Representatives agreed on 2.4%. Both chambers proposed
a 12% pay raise for corrections officers. However, the House suggested the pay raises begin July
1, 1996, while the Senate postponed the raise until October. Both plans included $20 million
dollars to install telecommunications equipment in schools. Legislators agreed to increase the tax
exemption for parents of children under six years old from $3,600 to $4,200, and to begin a three
year phase in extending the manufacturer's depreciation rate from 80% to 90%.

received third reading, to be ratified

H.4545, concerning a electric utility's
costs, requires that the Public Service Commissioner
review and set fuel costs. These costs then
may be passed on to customers. Reviews would be done
every twelve months rather than the
current six months. The bill allows a utility to include air pollution control devices as fuel costs
rather than capital costs. Also, a utility operating a nuclear power plant at ninety per cent net
capacity would be required to make every reasonable effort to minimize operating costs.
H.4743 authorizes a candidate for director of a
watershed conservation district to declare his candidacy with the State Election Commission,
rather than by submitting a nominating petition.

received third reading, amended, returned to the House for concurrence

H.3055 grants foreign language credit to
courses in American sign language. H.3373
provides that half of all fines collected for cruelty to animals must be awarded to any local
nonprofit animal humane organization involved in prosecuting the violation. If none were involved,
then the fine would be distributed as provided by law.
H.3566 enacts the Juvenile Justice Code by consolidating various
provisions into a single articles. Senators amended the measure to require that parents reimburse
court and medical costs of juvenile offenders. H.
3710 provides for a two year phase in of a sales tax exemption for
machinery used in recycling. H.3915 originally
revised the membership of the Commission on Higher Education. It also provided for the easier
transfer of credits between institutions. However, Senators amended the bill to provide for leasing
the Medical University of South Carolina to Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation as well. Under
the measure, before the Budget and Control Board could sign any contract it must first consult
with the Department of Education. The Senate also voted to eliminate a current perk authorizing
free health care for legislators at MUSC. However, state employees with insurance still would not
be responsible for any co-payments. H.4409
provides for the type of instrument which may preclude the severance of the right of survivorship.
The measure includes an instrument in which a person or persons makes a conveyance to himself
and at least one other person. H.4663 provides
that the granting of bail is discretionary in most cases. However, bail would continue to be
prohibited for offenders serving life or death sentences, or serving sentences longer than ten years.
The bill also was amended to address alienation of affection litigation, to provide for just cause.
H.4694 provides
state guidelines for the newly
deregulated telecommunications industry. The measure is designed to ensure continued
accessibility to and affordability of the services. It allows local telephone companies to compete
against each other, and to earn greater profits while providing checks for numerous rate increases.
H.4865 was recalled from the Banking and Industry
Committee last week and given third reading. The measure reforms property insurance problems
faced by coastal residents. It revises insurance premium rates for coastal areas based on ninety
per cent of rates approved for the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association. It also
provides that rates may not increase more than once every six months. H.4976 addresses a recent rash of church burnings across the state.
The measure doubles the sentence to ten years in cases where there is no injury or only partial
defacement. More serious cases still would be covered by existing arson laws which carry
sentences of up to twenty-five years.

received third reading, sent to the House

S.453 provides that school districts may buy
approved textbooks directly from the supplier when these books are not available through the
Department of Education. Districts will be reimbursed for these purchases. The measure also
prohibits districts from offering courses for which there is no approved textbook. S.930 provides for a referendum to determine whether members
of the governing body of a special purpose district should be elected, rather than appointed by the
governing body of the municipality in which it is located. S.1167 authorizes that certain information concerning records of
juvenile offenders must be provided to all crime victims, not just victims of violent crimes. This
could cost the state over $200,000 the first year and $185,000 annually thereafter. S.1374 enacts the "Private Correctional Facilities, Programs, and
Services Act." The measure permits privatization of state and local prisons.

concurrent resolution adopted

H.4635 memorializes Congress to
strengthen laws restraining the amount of violence, drugs, sex, and inappropriate language and
behavior on television.

received second reading

H.3785 enacts the "Massage Practice Act."
The measure revises regulations of masseurs and masseuses, and establishes disciplinary actions
for violations. The measure also creates the Board of Massage. H.4541 increases fines and penalties for unlawful destruction or
desecration of human remains or graves. Senators amended the bill to provide for a monument on
the State House grounds honoring the accomplishments of African-Americans in the state.
H.4542, concerning the Setoff Debt Collection Act,
includes municipal, county, and regional housing authorities as claimant agencies. H.4979 authorizes revision of existing capital improvement bonds
to provide $400,000 for the Cheraw State Fish Hatchery and nearly $1.5 million dollars for the
Turbeville Correctional Institution.

committed

H.4138 was committed to the Finance
Committee. The bill provides for a referendum to raise sales tax by a penny and to adopt a flat six
per cent income tax with a three hundred fifty dollar ($350) per person deduction. In exchange
for doing this, all property taxes would be eliminated.

recalled

H.3732 provides that driving with a
canceled, suspended, or revoked license is a misdemeanor. The measure also reduces the sentence
for a second offense from sixty days to thirty days, so that cases may be tried in magistrate's
court rather than in circuit court. H.4012
establishes a special thirty dollar ($30) license decal for intrastate logging trucks, and specifies
acceptable load lengths. H.4501, concerning the
"Setoff Debt Collection Act," excludes debts owed to a county hospital when the debtor and the
hospital have entered into a written agreement which the debtor currently is fulfilling.
H.4542, also concerning the "Setoff Debt
Collection Act," includes municipal, county, and regional housing authorities as claimant agencies.
The bill received second reading in the Senate last week too. H.4774 provides an optional method of valuing Homeowner's
Association Property for tax purposes. The measure amends the code to define such property, and
requires that owners of real property or their agents must make a written application to the county
assessor to qualify for this provision. H.4782
shields registered mortgage loan brokers from civil liability for third party violations of the Federal
Truth in Lending Act. It also establishes provisions for satellite offices and registration fees.
H.4795 stipulates that a creditor providing a real
estate loan must notify the borrower in writing of the creditor's preference of attorney.
H.4796 provides that the Department of Public
Safety shall assess the value of motor carrier vehicles for property tax purposes. The measure also
authorizes owners of semitrailers to pay a onetime fee of eighty-seven dollars ($87) in lieu of
property taxes and registration. H.4818 provides
for a child to be placed in a secure juvenile detention facility when there is no suitable alternative
placement, and it is determined that detention is in the child's best interest or is necessary to
protect either the child or the public. The bill also provides for periodic review of the case.
H.4825 clarifies last session's gas tax bill. The
measure provides that licenses are in lieu of other taxes, and that the backup tax applies to
alternative fuels as well as gasoline. Also included in the bill, a license may be suspended or
revoked for failure to comply with deferred payments.
H.4833 updates the Procedures Act of 1995 to comply with current
provisions. It conforms the statute of limitations on gas tax to make it consistent with other taxes.
The measure also clarifies provisions relating to unclaimed property and jeopardy assessments, and
extends time constraints for protest and filing periods. H.4834 provides numerous revisions to state tax laws. The bill
authorizes alternative means for signing and storing
income tax returns, as well as for submitting
payments. It redefines liabilities of innocent spouses where primary responsibility for the incurred
tax rests with the other spouse. The measure also provides a tax exemption for certain medical
supplies. H.4865
reforms property insurance
problems faced by coastal residents. It revises insurance premium rates for coastal areas based
on ninety per cent of rates approved for the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting
Association. It also provides that rates may not increase more than once every six months. This
bill received third reading in the Senate last week and has been returned to the House for
concurrence. H.4902
enacts the "South Carolina
Transportation Infrastructure Bank Act." The proposed legislation creates the banks to make loans,
and to provide other public transportation facilities.
H.4979 authorizes revision of existing capital improvement bonds to
provide $400,000 for the Cheraw State Fish Hatchery and nearly $1.5 million dollars for the
Turbeville Correctional Institution. The measure received second reading in the Senate last week.

recalled and committed

H.4589 was recalled from the
Transportation Committee and committed to the Judiciary Committee. The bill increases the
maximum penalty for a driver's failure to stop when involved in an accident causing injury or
death. Rather than the current sentence of thirty days to one year, violators could face up to
fifteen years in prison.

special order

S.1322 provides for a referendum
concerning the length of the legislative session. Currently lawmakers meet for five months out of
the year. Voters would be asked if after convening in January each year, the Senate and the
House should have the flexibility to meet in committees for a period to be determined by each
body, or whether the bodies could adjourn for more than three days without the other's written
consent. This joint resolution is designed to speed up the legislative process by passing measures
more quickly through committees and onto the floor.

Neither the full committee nor any of the subcommittees met last week.

EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

The Intermodal Transportation Subcommittee amended and gave a favorable report to S.1162 which allows a single dealer plate to be
issued for a vehicle which a dealer lends to an economic development entity. The amendment to
S.1162 proposes
comprehensive changes. Among
other things, the amendment:

* Transfers the Division of Motor Vehicles from the Department of Revenue to the
Department of Public Safety.
* Allows for more equitable treatment for South Carolina drivers convicted under Interstate
Driver's License Compact matters.
* Removes driver's license suspension requirement for failure to pay property taxes and
allows the Department of Public Safety to refuse to renew a driver's license until
payment of property taxes.
* Allows the Department of Public Safety to accept satisfactory written test scores from
a qualified driver training/education
program, thereby eliminating duplication of
written testing at DMV field offices.
* Allows DPS to garnish tax refunds rather than suspend driver's licenses for failure to
satisfy financial requirements.
* Extends commercial driver's license renewal to five years to match the renewal schedule
for standard driver's licenses.
* Allows DPS to enter into agreements with county and local law enforcement for the
seizure of motor vehicle license plates and driver's licenses.

The full Education and Public Works Committee
reported favorably on the amended version
of S.1162. The
committee reported favorably on
four other bills: H.
4112, as amended, directs the
Department of Transportation collect information on and develop safety plans for one hundred
meter stretches of highway where two or more accidents have occurred; S.1071 allows school districts to approve their own medical and
religious exemptions from physical education; S.
378
creates a special license plate for Shriners; and, S.
67
creates a special license plate for the Marine Corps
League. The committee also recommended
the repeal of twelve Department of Education regulations as part of that department's rollback
initiative.

JUDICIARY

While the full Judiciary Committee did not meet last week, several subcommittees did. The
Constitutional Laws Subcommittee reported favorably on five bills. S.659 provides that hotels with liquor licenses may establish in each
room a locked "hospitality cabinet" containing no more than thirty mini-bottles. S.921 provides that all regulations requiring review by the General
Assembly would expire five years after their effective date unless approved for an additional five
year period. Committee members amended the measure to include provisions from H.3581 that address public hearing requirements. S.1050 provides for a voter referendum to enact the "Victims'
Bill of Rights." The proposed legislation strives to
protect victims' rights to justice and due
process. It authorizes victims to receive pertinent information concerning their cases, and allows
them to be present and speak at proceedings. The measure also removes the five hundred dollar
($500) restitution cap, provides additional means of
collecting restitutions, and restricts release
of offenders on bail. S.
1100 requires the Secretary
of State to monitor all elected and appointed state boards, commissions, and judicial offices. When
vacancies occur, the Secretary would be required to publicize the openings. The bill also requires
that a person not seeking re-election notify the joint screening committee in writing at least thirty
days prior to the last filing day for that office or
position. S.1327 prohibits the Governor from reappointing a magistrate who
fails to meet training or certification requirements. This measure was introduced after reports that
four magistrates who failed the test were able to keep their jobs despite a law requiring their
removal.
The Election Laws Subcommittee reported favorably on several measures. S.556 authorizes the voter
registration of a person not yet eighteen
years old, but who will become eighteen years old before the next general election. S.583 is the enacting legislation for the former proposal. It calls
for a referendum to amend the State Constitution so that a person not yet eighteen years old, but
who will become eighteen years old before the next general election, may be registered to vote
in that election. S.
1028
abolishes a municipal
election commission in cases where the county election commission has assumed total
responsibility for municipal elections. S.1064 authorizes the use of paper ballots in
special elections. S.
1160 makes numerous
revisions concerning election laws. The measure revises absentee ballots and their requirements,
while providing that challenged votes are provisional. The Bureau of Vital Statistics is required to
furnish the State Election Commission with a monthly
report of persons eighteen years old or older
who died during the previous month. Currently only those over twenty-one years old are reported.
Other provisions provide for published notice of municipal elections, specify requirements for poll
watcher badges, and provide for poll watchers for nonpartisan and write-in candidates.
S.1213 authorizes a referendum to determine
whether to delete the provision that a person may vote only in the precinct of his residence. A
separate question on the ballot would ask whether to
delete the provision that a person who
moves within thirty days of an election must be allowed to vote in the precinct of his former
residence. S.1216
brings the state into compliance
with the federal "Motor Voter" law. It enacts provisions for multiple site voter registration, and
specifies designated registration agencies. The fiscal impact of this legislation is estimated to be
$1 million dollars annually. H.4922 authorizes
candidates to file their statements of intention of candidacy with the county election commission rather than the county executive committee of their respective party.
The General Laws Subcommittee reported favorably on two bills. S.1284 authorizes placement of a child in a secure juvenile detention
facility when no suitable alternative exists, or when it is deemed that placement is in the child's
best interest, or is necessary to protect either the
child or the public. The bill also specifies the
time frame for review, and expands the circumstances
under which the Department of Juvenile
Justice may fingerprint and photograph a juvenile. This measure is similar to H.4818, which is on the Senate calendar for second reading.
S.1286 prohibits daycare centers from knowingly
hiring a person convicted of a violent or sexual crime, as well as certain other offenses. Such
applicants would be guilty of a misdemeanor. They would be subject to a fine of up to five
thousand dollars ($5,000), a sentence of not more than one year, or both. The bill also requires
that applicants be fingerprinted to determine any prior criminal history.

LABOR, COMMERCE, AND INDUSTRY

The Real Estate Subcommittee amended and gave a favorable report to S.66 which requires counties and municipalities to adopt nationally or
regionally accepted building codes for new construction. The bill also provides for Building Code
Enforcement Officers who would enforce the building code standards adopted by local
governments. The subcommittee amended and reported favorably on H.4049 which removes plumbers, electricians, and heating/air
conditioning mechanics from the definition of residential specialty contractor and redesignates
them as mechanical contractors. The bill establishes a uniform statewide process for the licensure
of these specialists and exempts them from further local regulation save for business license
permits and inspection fees. The subcommittee recommended approval for R. 1912 after it was
withdrawn and resubmitted with technical changes by the Department of Labor, Licensing and
Regulation. The regulation requires registered professional engineers and land surveyors to
demonstrate continuing professional competency through coursework in order to re-register.

MEDICAL, MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

The Social Services, Mental Health and Children's Affairs Subcommittee amended and gave
a favorable report to S.
119, The South Carolina
Drug Impaired Infants Act, which establishes a statewide policy on alcohol and drug use during
pregnancy emphasizing prevention and reform over coercion and punishment. Under the act,
health care providers would be required to counsel pregnant patients on the perinatal effects of
alcohol, cigarettes, and controlled substances. In the case of a high risk pregnancy where
substance abuse appears to be involved, health care providers would also be required to inform
the patient about treatment options including a referral to the Division of Alcohol and Other Drug
Abuse Services Office of Women's Services. Such referrals would be made in complete
confidence and could not be used for criminal prosecution. Women could not be turned away from
publicly funded treatment programs for reason of their pregnancy, and would instead receive top
priority. The bill also provides that a physician may order testing for alcohol and other drugs on
a newborn without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. A preventative education campaign
is established among state agencies and in public schools.
The Occupational Regulation and Licensing Boards Subcommittee gave a favorable report
to H.3958, a bill which aims to ensure that
licensed dentists control aspects of dental treatment and services. To that end, the bill makes it
unlawful for anyone other than a licensed dentist to
employ a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental
technician. It would also be unlawful for anyone other than a licensed dentist to control the
course of a patient's treatment, the dental equipment used in that treatment, and the operation
of a dentist's office.

WAYS AND MEANS

Neither the full committee nor any of the subcommittees met last week.

S. 930
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT
ELECTIONS Sen. McConnell
The proposed legislation provides for a referendum to determine whether members of the
governing body of a special purpose district should be elected, rather than appointed by the
governing body of the municipality in which it is located.

S. 1167
CONFIDENTIALITY OF JUVENILE
RECORDS Sen. Fair
The measure provides that certain information regarding records of juvenile offenders must be
provided to all crime victims, rather than those of violent crimes. This could cost the state over
$200,000 the first year, and $185,000 annually thereafter.

S. 1380
FINGERPRINT REVIEWS FOR
SHERIFF CANDIDATES Sen. McConnell
This bill provides that candidates for sheriff do not have to submit required fingerprint
reviews until forty-five days after filing, rather than sixty days before the close of qualification. The
measure does not apply to incumbent sheriffs.

H. 5002
SAFETY AT CONVENIENCE
STORES Rep. Harvin
This house resolution requests that the Department of Public Safety study safety procedures used
at convenience stores, and report findings to the House Judiciary Committee.

LABOR, COMMERCE, AND INDUSTRY

H. 5008
PRIVATE PERSONNEL PLACEMENT
SERVICES Rep. Jaskwhich
Under this bill, permanent, contract and temporary placement services would be considered private
personnel placement services and placement services operated by nonprofit educational, religious,
charitable, or eleemosynary institutions would no longer be exempt from regulation.

MEDICAL, MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

S. 1374
"PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ACT" Sen. Rose
This bill specifies ways in which local governments may make use of nongovernmental correctional
facilities for confinement or supervision of offenders, juvenile delinquents, status offenders, and
detainees.

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